Meredith Lee
Mert Lee was a people person. His daughters described him as a man who liked everybody.
"Someone described him to me as one of those rare people who always had smiling eyes," his daughter Kris Lee said. She said he had a great sense of humor because of his quick wit.
Meredith Lee of Sturgeon, who was known by all his friends as “Mert,” and as “Snazzmaster” by his youngest grandson, died in his home on Monday, Jan. 24, 2010. He was 81.
He was born to Frank and Mary (Henry) Lee in Boone County on Sept. 4, 1928.
Mr. Lee enjoyed visiting his nieces and his sister-in-law in Colorado and Wyoming. He loved cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals from his home and rooting for Gene Autry and Roy Rogers in Western movies, which were his favorite.
Mr. Lee married Elsie Sapp in 1951 in Columbia. They had four daughters and a son. Sandy Spry, their daughter, said her parents made marriage look easy.
“They never argued that we knew of," Spry said. "From watching them, we couldn’t wait to get married.”
Mr. Lee worked at Ray’s Market and Eastgate IGA in Columbia during his teen years. He was a Korean War veteran and worked for the Columbia Police Department for 20 years. He moved to Sturgeon about 19 years ago.
He is survived by his sister, Halene Strautman; four daughters, Debbie Sublette of Columbia, Sandy Spry, Merry Baize and Kris Lee, all of Sturgeon; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
His son, Richard F. Lee, and his wife died earlier.
Visitation will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Nilson Funeral Home, 5611 Saint Charles Road in Columbia. Services, conducted by the Rev. Dennis Stuart, will start at 1:30 p.m. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, 1217 W. Business Loop 70.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Canine Companions for Independence, c/o Paul O’Brien, 126 Las Animas St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
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